|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2
stranger
|
OP
stranger
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2 |
We have searched and searched for the history of the "rola bola" and can find nothing. In case you are not a circus afficianado, rola bola consists of a board, with stops beneath, on a cylinder, on which one balances (or falls). It is an excellent exercise for the back, for improving balance, and for having fun. No dictionary or word compendium of any sort, so far, has provided any official information. Can any of you? Or can you site a source? Thanks very much. BJS
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315 |
This seems exactly one among the exercises Anu - and some of us - would enjoy to try! Can you describe it better? Is is possible to build it (or to buy it)? I didn't get the meaning of "board" and "stops" in this context. Ciao Emanuela
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
I've seen a rola bola--and even played on one--but never knew the name. emanuela: it is a board-- a plank of wood, about 1 meter long, and a foot -(-20 to30 milimeters?) wide. (such planks can be bought at lumber building supply stores-- or scavenged from a building site) ) on one (underside) side there are small piece of wood at each about 10 x10 centimeters--and as long as the board is wide. each piece is about 10 to 15 millimeters for the end- (I'd call then cleats-- the same word used for the metal pegs on "football" or golf shoes) (i tried to do a diagram with characters-- but it kept messing up..) the board is balanced on a large metal cylinder-- almost like a small see-saw (teeter-totter) To use it, you stand on the board, and balance.. as you get good, you can roll back and forth.
the wood on the underside keeps you from rolling off the cylinder. the cylinder could be made of old cans-- the smaller the cylinder, the easier it is.. a good size is about 10--15 millimeters/diameter.
you could make the cylinder from recycled food cans.. Two large tomato cans (.75 kilo size) over wrapped with a sheet of tin, or just taped together with the all purpose american tool--duct tape (I hope i got the measurements right--i still think in inches, and ounces--i mean the 28 oz. cans of tomatoes.
My work issued ruler is in inches only--at home i have both-- but the exact size is not too important-- about half a body lenght long, and wide enough to be able to stand on.. the cleats positioned so when resting, the edge of the board touches the ground..)
Kids made them themselves...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Welcome, BJS!
Tsuwm, how on earth do you find things like that?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981 |
I'm trying to remember the song "Rola bola something, penny a punch" - nearly as good as the "Latin" we all tried to decipher once!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
jo, is this what you had in mind? I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts Every ball you throw will make me rich. There stands me wife, the idol of me life, Singin' roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch. Singin' roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch, Singin' roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch! Roll or bowl a ball. Roll or bowl a ball, Singin' roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981 |
>jo, is this what you had in mind?
Spot on! Looks like a bit of a Mondegreen!
I know the first line well (don't we all) but hadn't realised that I was thinking about the same song! Not a song one often hears these days. Another "Two Ronnies" favourite.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 130
member
|
member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 130 |
LOL, I was thinking of that exact song! I was surprised to see what the actual song lyrics were. Sounds like an English Dancehall number, yes?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
Zactly! My father used to sing it to us all when we were kids. Yes, it was music hall. I used to know who well, someone who recorded it, but my memory's hard drive is a couple of bad clusters shy of the manufacturer's specs ...
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
332
guests, and
0
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|